JFD has completed the first stage of harbour acceptance trials of its first deep search and rescue vehicle (DSRV) for the Indian Navy’s third generation Submarine Rescue System. The initial harbour acceptance trials of the first DSRV, which were undertaken at Glasgow’s King George V dock, are now complete. As part of this process the system has been comprehensively tested in a variety of conditions.

The DSRV hull previously underwent factory acceptance tests in December 2017 at the JFD-owned National Hyperbaric Centre in Aberdeen. These tests included thorough pressurised testing on the system’s pressure hulls and command module – all of which were completed successfully. 

Under the £193 million contract, awarded in March 2016, JFD is providing two complete flyaway submarine rescue systems to the Indian Navy, including DSRVs, Launch and Recovery Systems equipment, Transfer Under Pressure systems and all logistics and support equipment required to operate the service. The equipment was designed, manufactured, integrated and tested by JFD prior to shipping in March 2018 for final commissioning and trials. The full, certified systems are due to be delivered to the customer in June 2018.

Upon completion of the harbour acceptance trials, the DSRV will be fully integrated with the rest of the rescue system at a site in Glasgow, including the offshore handling system, intervention suite and 90-person decompression facilities.

"JFD’s 3rd Generation DSRV is one of the deepest submarine rescue vehicles available and is weight optimised for maximum payload and optimum transportability,” says Ben Sharples, India DSRV project director at JFD. “It has high levels of in-water performance including speed and manoeuvrability and can mate with submarines that might be subject to inclination on the seabed.”

The 3rd Generation Submarine Rescue System was developed by JFD to maximise the chances of successfully rescuing the crew of a distressed submarine (DISSUB).